Larry R. Soward of Austin was appointed
by Gov. Rick Perry on October 17, 2003, to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality. The Texas Senate confirmed his appointment
on May 11, 2004.
Soward served as executive assistant to the Texas lieutenant
governor during the 78th Legislative Session and during two special
legislative sessions held during 2003.
He has more than 31 years of experience leading state agencies,
and served as the deputy land commissioner of the Texas General
Land Office and Veterans' Land Board, the deputy commissioner of
the Texas Department of Agriculture, and the deputy executive
director of the Texas Public Utility Commission. In addition,
Soward has been executive director of the Texas Water Commission,
the culmination of a 12-year tenure at that agency. During his time
at the Water Commission, he was its general counsel and chief
hearings examiner. He was also appointed by the Governor to serve
on the Texas Energy Planning Council in 2004.
He graduated from the University of Texas (UT) with a law degree
in 1974 and has practiced environmental law and water law as a solo
practitioner and as partner of a small law firm. Soward also holds
a bachelor's degree in mathematics from UT.
Soward's term will expire Aug. 31, 2009.
